Robin's Story
At age five I recall climbing to the tallest part of the playground. On my tip toes I reached up as far as I could because I was so convinced that I could touch the clouds with my fingertips. I remember being sad as I couldn’t reach far enough. I started getting sad a lot after that. By the time I was ten, the bullying became pretty bad in school and things weren’t much better at home. I started having serious panic attacks and would act out of fear. My fear-based reactions always brought me trouble. I was suspended 5 times that year before someone noticed that my behaviours were really anxiety attacks. I started getting bullied less at school but the problems at home worsened.
The day before my sixteenth birthday I got a call saying my friend had passed away. I know I blacked out because I don’t remember the details of how I ended up in the hospital. But I do know that I tried to end my life that night. When I awoke I saw on a white board; “Happy 16th Birthday!” While in the hospital, for about a month, I learned a lot about my mental health issues and how to better cope with them.
Even though I’m an adult now, I still haven’t tried to touch the clouds with my fingertips. I know it’s impossible. I remember a time before, when I had no clue what impossible meant—that’s when I was fearless and when not being able to touch the clouds were my biggest issues. Now, I strive for my courage to triumph over fear, and I love and care for as many people as my heart will let me. I know I will be okay.
The day before my sixteenth birthday I got a call saying my friend had passed away. I know I blacked out because I don’t remember the details of how I ended up in the hospital. But I do know that I tried to end my life that night. When I awoke I saw on a white board; “Happy 16th Birthday!” While in the hospital, for about a month, I learned a lot about my mental health issues and how to better cope with them.
Even though I’m an adult now, I still haven’t tried to touch the clouds with my fingertips. I know it’s impossible. I remember a time before, when I had no clue what impossible meant—that’s when I was fearless and when not being able to touch the clouds were my biggest issues. Now, I strive for my courage to triumph over fear, and I love and care for as many people as my heart will let me. I know I will be okay.